Apparatus for carrying out the electrolytic production of sodium.



or Paars, FRANCE, aan UIL L0N HULN', or cannons, lsnnafraancn.

APrhRATUs FRjcaRRYINGo-UT LECTRoiY'ric I nomibrionorsomma..

#To'all whom-ithmayiconeim 1 v i Be it known Lthat I,` PAUL LONYHULIN, of

6 Rue Flix-Poulat,` Grenoble; Isre,Re ub lic of France, engineer, have mventec 'fan Apparatus ,forCarryinU Out-the=Electro The present invent-ion ha's 'for its object an apparatus particu]arlyfapplicable for the r electrolytic decomposition of fused I `hcaustic soda. for .th-ej production ofy vsodiumgfubut` which may also-be employed tio-decomposey other alkalies. l This apparatus is'-characterizedessentially :by the combination bf ana-node', constituted tive polarity.

by two cylinders'concentrically disposed,

one inside andthe 'other outside the cathode; l

a cathode surrounded by co'nce'iitrically.;dis `posed partshoftl'ie anode and an A*annular sodium fcollectoi'fir'i the lforin of# an inverted U-Sha'ped menibefdispbsed over t-he cathode,

this arrangement permitting. the high'concentration 'flt-lfie electrolytic action von the cathodel 'attlie sam'etime asa diiiusi'on of the electrolytic`1faction oi1the`anode..

This apriaratsfi's shown by'Wa-y "of` exlample in the accompanying drawings, in

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the apparatus ,on line A--A Fig. 2; zontal section on line B--B Fig. l. Fi`g.. 3 is a section on line C-C Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line D-D Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows separately, in perspective the anode. Fig. 6 isa similar view of the collector or separa tor. Fig. 7 shows the cathode.

As may be seen from. the drawings, the apparatus comprises a cast iron vat a. referably square, but which may be ma ef`ofl iron or'steel and in .any other shape; this vat contams the fused caustic soda. The

iron'or steel anode b5 is `placed wit-hin Vthe vat 'and is constituted essentially oftwo concentric cylinders connected by two conductor arms such as b1 which render said cylinders mechanically and electrically-integral. The anode is suspended In the vat containing fused soda by two supporting arms c c whichlead in the current of posi- The cathode (l is constituted -by a metal ring, which may be a simple copper cylinder;

1t may for example be formed by a narrow band below whlch are hung rods t spaced as PaUL LO HULIN, or GRENOBLE, FRANE, Assien'oitm'o socirnpiniln gino-birthin- Specification of Letterslgatent. 1Pili; 1.. L. 4Applica-ti.o x` .iled. ApriL45-1910J.- SerialjNo. 553,'243.

511mm in Fig, i; This "cathode ner that-the vcathode maly i' adi-ly. dischi shown with( regard to the Fig. 2 is ahorientetlt l). ik

nunfted the central stem f1. vvThis stemis fixed at l 'N 'upper extremity --to a suitablesupportEl asl by means of cotterip" nected. The negativel cui-ren is 1v the support g. Thearnis A prolonged up to the cro. recftly xed thereto'in-th Theiharacteristic feati' y lng varrangement 1s the d cathode betw@ .round the sides of the cathode."

The collector orseparator c, that is" the pa1"`tin which the sodiiiin ol j liron'f'or steel andl has the foimff titute pump cup-leather.

Threeopenings are rovi" "ftlie collector. vOne 01p 1 communication vwith cup' f integraljwitli thel collector riig whereinv collects all'fffth sodium generated by the cathode yand wliclA has risenflup. to5 and been v'retained l'beneatliti "85- the "collector ring." Sleeves or .liners vvnar'- rower than the l'collector riig larel'jlpassed. l through .tho "two otherv openings'and are adapted to form an air-tight Joint t-he'rey With. These sleeves extend a few centimeters '90 below the inside and a little above the outside as shown in-Figs. 1 Iand r6. The arms d1 which support the cathode and lead in the current pass through V.these two sleeves Without-making contact with said collector.

The yannular sodium collector 'e is supported by iron legs independent-ly -of the cathode with which it is not in contact, said legs resting on acover which is disposed on the vat, insulators being provided forinsulatingthe' current carrying parts. V

These details, whichl have no distinctive features, are not shown in the drawings for the sake of clearness. 4The other parts, accessory 'details and 'ai-rang'gements, vheat vretaining covering, electricgh'eater, current conductors and the like niaygbe of any suitable form. 1 f

The novel element of this invention consists iu the combination of a circular anode 310 composed of two cylindersot different` di-'.

amet'ers. disposed conccntrically around'the i cathode; a, cathode thus surrounded both insideandk outside and an annular sodiumcoly.j

' time the dilfusion of the electrolytic action.

on the anode. Y

The pump cup-shaped collector rapidly cffeets the collection of the sodium globules in a reduced space and thus helps to diminish the losseswhich` are brought about "by the redissolving ofthe metal in tl1e 'fL1sed elec-` trolyte.`

By means of the combination claimed a large outputof sodium, a long life for the anode. and an apparatus which for its size is more powerful than those as hitherto constructed, is obtained.

On all these points the invention .constitutes therefore an, important improvement. The invention is moreover independent of. the shapes, sizesand detail arrangements of the `ditl'erent 'parts which constitute and are accessory to the apparatus. The anode and the cathode may be either square, rectangular y. or oval in plan without departing from the spirit ot .the invention.`

l. In an apparatus for carrying outi'the velectrolytic production of sodium, a circulafr:

anode formed by two electrically connected' concentric cylinders and a cathode disposed'- between the two cylinders.

2. In an apparatusfor carryingv out theV electrolytic production of sodium; a circular anode formed by two electrically .connected concentric cylinders, and a cathode disposed between `thetwotcylinders comprising a rmg from which are suspended vertical rods.

- 3, Invan apparatus for carrying out the electrolytic production of sodium, a l-circular anodeformed by two concentric cylindersl t i l and cross-bars arranged between these cylinders and placed at the lower extremity of the same.

4. In an apparatus for carrying out the electrolytic production of sodium, an anode formed by two concentric cylinders, a cathode disposed between the two cylinders, and a collector having the shape of a circular tray arranged above the cathode.

In an apparatus for carrying out the electrolyti'c production of sodium, an, anode formed by two concentric cylinders, a cathode disposed between the two cylinders, a collector having the shape of a circular tray arranged above the cathode and sleeves in this collector for the passage of the conductors carrying the cathode.

G. In an apparatus for carrying out the" electrolytic production of sodium, an anode formed by two concentric cylinders, a circular cathode. between these cylinders, a circular collector placed above the cathode, sleeves in this collector, and suspension rods, for the cathode, passing in the sleeves of the colleetor without touching the same.

7. In an apparatus for carrying out thev electrolytic production' of sodium, an anode formed by two concentric cylinders, a circular cathode between these cylinders, a circular collector placed above the cathode, sleeves in this collector and suspension rods, 'for said cathode, passing in the sleeves of the collector, without touching the same and connected together to a common support easily dismountable.

The foregoing specification of my apparatus for carrying out the electrolytic production of sodium, signedby me this'19th day of March 19710.

' PAUL LEON HULIN.

Witnesses.

H. C. Coxs,

R. EHIRIo'r. 

